UK New "counter-extremism"
strategy launched19.10.2015The UK government has launched its new "one-nation
Counter-Extremism Strategy" targeted at "all forms
of extremism". "Extremism" has been defined by
Prime Minister David Cameron and Home Secretary Theresa May as
"vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values".
The strategy precedes forthcoming anti-extremism legislation.

A Downing Street press release says:

"The new Strategy follows the 4
key pillars set out by the PM in his speech in Birmingham in
July:

1. It will vigorously counter extremist
ideology  making sure every part of government is stepping
up to the plate.
2. It will actively support mainstream voices, especially in
our faith communities and in civil society. That means supporting
all those who want to fight extremism, but are too often disempowered
or drowned out in the debate.
3. It will disrupt extremists, aggressively pursuing the key
radicalisers who do so much damage.
4. And it will seek to build more cohesive communities, tackling
the segregation and feelings of alienation that can help provide
fertile ground for extremist messages to take root."

More specifically, new powers will make
it possible for parents to request the withdrawal of their 16
and 17-year-old childrens' passports (currently such requests
can be made only for children under 16) and anyone with a conviction
for extremist activity will be barred from working with children
or vulnerable people.

"The new anti-extremism bill will
force public sector organisations to boycott gorups or individuals
listed as extremist, introduce extremism disruption orders
on those seeking to radicalise young people online, close mosques
where extremist meetings have taken place and strengthen the
powers available to the media regulator to sanction channels
that broadcast extremist content.

"Separately, the investigatory
powers bill is expected to strengthen the surveillance powers
of the authorities and is expected to go beyond the communications
data bill  nicknamed the snoopers charter 
which was blocked in the last parliament by the Liberal Democrats.

"As well as enabling the tracking
of internet and social media use, the legislation will also move
to strengthen the security services warranted powers for
the bulk interception of the content of communications."

Proposed new anti-extremism measures were
heavily criticised in September by David Anderson QC, the Independent
Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, in his annual report:

"If the wrong decisions are taken,
the new law risks provoking a backlash in affected communities,
hardening perceptions of an illiberal or Islamophobic approach,
alienating those whose integration into British society is already
fragile, and playing into the hands of those who, by peddling
a grievance agenda, seek to drive people further towards extremism
and terrorism.

"Of particular importance is the
potential of the new law to affect those who are not its targets.
No doubt it will be said, with perfect sincerity, that it is
intended to make only a handful of individuals and organisations
subject to the new orders, and that those who peddle hatred and
prejudice in order to sow division deserve nobody's sympathy.
But to speak only of the intended targets does not address the
dangers that are inherent in all over-broad laws and discretions:
dangers which are present even in the relatively confined area
of anti-terrorism law, and which become still more marked as
the range of suspect behaviour is extended. If it becomes
a function of the state to identify which individuals are engaged
in, or exposed to, a broad range of "extremist activity",
it will become legitimate for the state to scrutinise (and the
citizen to inform upon) the exercise of core democratic freedoms
by large numbers of law-abiding people." [emphasis added]

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